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Family With Medals; RunDisney 10K; Stitch Hat; Lilo and Stitch Costume
  • On Jan 13, 2016
    Victoria from LA Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Plan my Disney World vacation with out dinning bc there is no current discount ... Anyone have any tips or advice, traveling with a family of 5?

    Hi Victoria!

    I have visited Walt Disney World Resort both with and without a Disney dining plan and have had wonderful trips both ways. When my family of four enjoys visits without a dining plan, we like to enjoy a mix of table service and quick service restaurants. I will generally pick a few favorite table service restaurants and make reservations for them. Some of our favorites are Hollywood & Vine, Chef Mickey's, California Grill and 'Ohana. Reservations can be made 180 days in advance, so be sure to make your reservations as soon as possible to get your top choices. Because we are not on the dining plan, we can take advantage of the extra flexibility we have in our dining to order whatever we want. For example, I can order an appetizer and dessert for dinner or our whole family can share a dessert and appetizer. We also enjoy some of our favorite snacks as meals. If we are in Magic Kingdom, my family will get a giant turkey leg, a funnel cake and Dole Whips over an afternoon to enjoy instead of lunch. And we always spend an afternoon "snacking around the World" at Epcot's World Showcase!

    One way we save a bit of money during our trip is by bring our own breakfasts and light snacks with us. You can use a grocery delivery service such as Garden Grocer to deliver supplies for sandwiches, cereal, fruit and yogurt that you can enjoy at the beginning of the day. If my family has a small meal before we leave the room, we all have a better day as we aren't rushing to find the first meal. Plus, it's a great way to save a little bit of money. We also purchase the resort refillable mugs so we can have coffee and Powerade in the morning as we are getting dressed. I bring light snacks with me for my kids, such as fruit snacks, crackers and granola bars, that I can provide them if they get hungry during our day. That way, all of our snack purchases can be thoughtful, rather than rushed emergencies.


    T-T-F-N, ta ta for now!

    ~Crystal B.
thumbnail image for Crystal

Meet the Panelist: Crystal, Colorado

Hi! I’m Crystal and I’m a wife and mommy to three little Mouseketeers. My husband and I have been enjoying Disney Parks since before we were married, and now we take our children to see Mickey and the gang as often as we can, while  managing my oldest son's food allergies. Planning is key for my family to ensure that everyone has a safe and fun trip to our favorite place and it can be just as exciting as the trip itself. I can’t wait to help you plan your next adventure there, too! Learn More About Crystal

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